Very few things in sports are as risky as the onside kick. About 13% of expected onside kicks are recovered by the kicking team. THIRTEEN percent. Now that's a risk. But last night, during the biggest game the Saints have ever played in, that risk was taken.
No one saw it coming. Not the fans, not the commentators, and definitely not the Colts. The start to the second half looked typical, with no signs of impending trickery. All of a sudden, fans and commentators alike were out of their seats reacting to one of the gutsiest calls made in Superbowl history: a surprise onside kick to start the half.
Coach Payton knew what he was doing. He was taking a risk. 87% of the time this type of call backfires and gives the other team perfect field position... 13% of time gives you the ball. High risk means high reward. And against a team like the Colts, the risk had to be taken.
Now, unless you've been under a rock for the past 16 hours, you would know that the risk paid off. Not only did the Saints recover the ball off the kick, but they also went on to win the Superbowl.
A risk. A reward. A championship.
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